Globe is served by the Arizona Eastern Railway. In December 2008, weekend excursion service under the name Copper Spike began operating from Globe to the Apache Gold Hotel Casino near San Carlos.[7][8] Trains operated four daily round-trips on Thursdays through Sundays (Autumn through Spring) until 2011, when the Copper Spike Excursions were discontinued.[9]

Globe has a semi-arid climate, characterized by hot summers and moderate to warm winters. Globe's arid climate is somewhat tempered by its elevation, however, leading to slightly cooler temperatures and slightly more precipitation than Phoenix or Yuma.

Summers in Globe are hot, with daytime highs generally between 90 °F (32 °C) and 100 °F (38 °C). High temperatures topping 100 °F (38 °C) are not uncommon in July and August for Globe. Summertime lows are generally right around 65 °F (18 °C).

Wintertime highs usually average between 55 °F (13 °C) and 65 °F (18 °C), and lows tend to be right at or above freezing (32 °F/0 °C).

The all-time highest recorded temperature in Globe is 111 °F (44 °C), and it occurred on both June 27, 1990, and July 29, 1995. The lowest recorded temperature in the city is 12 °F (−11 °C), which occurred the same year the first time the record high was reached—December 23, 1990.

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,486 people, 2,814 households, and 1,871 families residing in the city. The population density was 415.5 people per square mile (160.4/km²). There were 3,172 housing units at an average density of 176.0 per square mile (68.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.60% White, 1.15% Black or African American, 3.10% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 14.59% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. 32.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,814 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,071, and the median income for a family was $42,280. Males had a median income of $31,404 versus $21,952 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,128. About 8.8% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

In 1875, prospectors found silver in the San Carlos Apache Reservation, including an unusual globe-shaped silver nugget. In just four years, the silver began to give out, but by then copper deposits were discovered. In the 1900s, the Old Dominion Copper Company in Globe ranked as one of the world's richest. The Old Dominion closed in 1931 and mining operations moved to nearby Miami.[13]

Globe's economy remains heavily dependent on the mining industry, and as of 2008 the city was home to one of the few operating copper smelters in the United States.[14]

The Old Dominion mine was the principal copper producer in the Globe District. In retirement, the old mine workings serve as the water supply for Globe-Miami and the district mines. Photo courtesy Jerry Willis.

The plans for an incorporated Globe were established in July 1876 with retail stores, banks, and Globe's first newspaper printing its first issue on May 2, 1878. By February 1881, Globe was the Gila County seat. Coming with Globe's new importance as the new county seat came a stage coach link linking it to Silver City, New Mexico.

Due to Globe's relative isolation from the rest of Arizona and its proximity to the San Carlos Apache reservation, Globe remained a frontier town. Globe's history is laced with many historic events such as murders, stagecoach robberies, outlaws, lynchings, and Apache raids. Natiotish, a San Carlos Apache, left the reservation with a group of about 50 men and continued to attack ranchers and miners.

In 1884 the surviving Clanton brothers Ike and Phineas arrived in Apache County after the infamous gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone. Ike was eventually killed by a local deputy sheriff, and Phineas, after serving prison time for a stage robbery, moved to Globe, where he died of pneumonia and was buried in 1906.

Globe is also known for having links to Geronimo and the Apache Kid. On October 23, 1889, the Apache Kid's trial was held in the Globe Courthouse. After he was convicted, it was the responsibility of Sheriff Glenn Reynolds to transport him to the Arizona Territorial Prison in Yuma, Arizona. Sheriff Reynolds, his deputy, and their prisoners set out in an armored stagecoach holding the Apache Kid inside. At an incline in the road, known as Kelvin Grade, near present day Kearny, Arizona, Sheriff Reynolds let some of the prisoners out of the stagecoach seeing as they were on an uphill climb and he wanted to ease the burden on the horses. The prisoners were able to overcome and murder Sheriff Reynolds as well as one other man. A third was left for dead. In response, the United States Army launched a campaign to track down the renegades.

Old Dominion Hotel – most prominent hotel of downtown Globe; famous for Cactus Room Cocktails and beautiful, huge balconies that hung over the street. Built 1905; burned 1981.

Elks Lodge building – the tallest three-story building in the world.[citation needed] Built 1910; is now an Antique store.

Murphy Hotel (Tonto Hotel) – beautiful 1916 hotel that closed in the 1970s and is in need of restoration.

Old Dominion Library – built in 1915 as a memorial to miner's deaths in a mining accident; burned 1981.

Woolworth Building – opened 1916 as FW Woolworth and Company. This was the last Woolworth store to close west of the Mississippi River.[citation needed] Now contains United Jewelry Company.

Gila Valley Bank and Trust building – a 1909 building designed by Sullivan architects of Chicago. The entire ceiling has the original skylights, is now a day spa.

Globe High School – built 1910; the oldest high school in the State of Arizona that is still in use by its original tenant.

Globe Theater – built 1917; art deco theater with copper columns, a balcony, and retro concession stand; burned 2005, but has since been reconstructed on the original site using original marquee and other architectural features.

Alden Theater – an art deco/Spanish colonial theater built around 1910; torn down after a fire in 1974.

Holy Angels Catholic Church – 1918 church with seven story bell tower; still in operation.

Hill Street Mall – a.k.a. "Johnnie's Country Corner". The Dance Hall Platform for Globe prior to statehood. Has also been the Pay'n Takit grocery, Coca-Cola Bottling Plant, Gila County Museum and Safeway grocery. Shaped in the state of Arizona. Currently operating as an antique and fabric mall.[16]

Globe-Miami Mine Rescue Station – operated into the 1960s, serving as an emergency rescue center. Now used as a museum.

Gila Valley, Globe, and Northern Railway Station (Southern Pacific station, Arizona Eastern station) – built 1910/1916; prominent train depot from construction to close in the 1950s, now a museum.

Central School, built in 1891 (addition in 1912). For many years, it was one of the oldest school buildings still in use in Arizona. It was demolished circa 1996.[17]

Noftsger Hill School is a classical-revival structure, built in 1917. It is presently used as a bed and breakfast inn.

Besh-ba-Gowah Pueblo is a reconstructed 14th century Salado Indian ruin, with an archaeological museum adjacent.[18]